Ketcher521 Posted August 4, 2016 Report Share Posted August 4, 2016 Buying a 1972 Datsun 521. It has the l16. Needs the carb rebuilt and the breaks redone. Other than that seems pretty good and strong. No rust through spots. Or anything. Solid frame. Etc. I would like to do an engine swap. I have been thinking a ka24. But I would like to know other options and opinions. Just a bit more horse power and reliablity would be great. Love some ideas guys! 4)- ms 1 Quote Link to comment
hobospyder Posted August 4, 2016 Report Share Posted August 4, 2016 Check out Kevins "what I'm working with" and datsunfreaks "ratty low back to life ka swap" threads. Search function is your friend. Do all your research and parts gathering before you start 2 Quote Link to comment
hobospyder Posted August 4, 2016 Report Share Posted August 4, 2016 Also, mrbigtankers 521 thread. He currently has a fj20 in his. Went through a different engine iirc 1 Quote Link to comment
kelowg Posted August 4, 2016 Report Share Posted August 4, 2016 Easiest would b fitment wise,L20b or some sort of LZ MOTOR. Second is ka24de,damn good power. Add 3.70 gears,total high speed cruizer. Parts available most anywhere. All other swaps much more work and/or fab work. Please dont over look disc brake upgrade and repair or mod of suspension. I know of 3 swaped 521 that were wrecked,due to these factors. Even with that l16,shit can get real in a hurry. 3 Quote Link to comment
datzenmike Posted August 4, 2016 Report Share Posted August 4, 2016 Always be able to decelerate faster than you accelerate. Doubling the hp on stock drum brakes? 3 Quote Link to comment
DanielC Posted August 4, 2016 Report Share Posted August 4, 2016 If the L-16 engine runs good and strong, do the engine swap as a last option. The reason most people think the L-16 does not have enough power is that they do not understand the L-16 likes way more RPM that most people use. Torque peak on a L-16 is 3,600 RPM Horsepower peak is about 6,000 RPM. Yellow zone for RPM is 6,500, Red line is 7,000. If you get the truck, run the L-16 for a while. Yes, some people have done various engine swaps. Far more engines swaps were started, and abandoned, with the truck being scrapped, or never ran. 3 Quote Link to comment
Stoffregen Motorsports Posted August 4, 2016 Report Share Posted August 4, 2016 Far more engines swaps were started, and abandoned, with the truck being scrapped, or never ran. That is the main thing that kills me about the enthusiast car world. Seeing a car or truck that got hacked into and then never finished is like shooting a buffalo just for its hide. 3 Quote Link to comment
Lockleaf Posted August 4, 2016 Report Share Posted August 4, 2016 That is the main thing that kills me about the enthusiast car world. Seeing a car or truck that got hacked into and then never finished is like shooting a buffalo just for its hide. I disagree. At least the hunter took the hide. The car guy just shoots the buffalo then feels bad that he doesn't know how to skin it, so he just leaves it there. 3 Quote Link to comment
racerx Posted August 4, 2016 Report Share Posted August 4, 2016 yep..run the L16 till you get the money, resources and tech. know how for KA swap. 2 Quote Link to comment
flatcat19 Posted August 4, 2016 Report Share Posted August 4, 2016 Run the L16. Shake the bugs out of the 521. Been telling g myself to do an engine swap for too long. I just really enjoy the L16. Peppy. Fairly strong, for what it is. Get the truck and let's get some pictures posted. 2 Quote Link to comment
spdcrazy Posted August 9, 2016 Report Share Posted August 9, 2016 like others have said, rock the l16 for a bit, and figure out what you really want, build it and swap. don't under estimate the l20b power. and get us some pics!!!!! :) 1 Quote Link to comment
Ketcher521 Posted August 23, 2016 Author Report Share Posted August 23, 2016 First, you guys rock for replying. I test drove the one and i needed new brakes, carb and the ignition broke. The body was a bit rougher than I assumed it was going to be. I have decided to go with this one instead. A lot cheaper and better body. the catch is that the motor is in the bed. But other than that it is a lot better. I am trying to figure out how to upload pics. SUPER NEW TO THIS SITE! I think I would clean up the engine that it has, drop it back in. Drive it as is, while I am upgrade the brakes, suspensions, possible tubbing, and other issues that arise. So when I get to the engine, I can drop it in and not worry about not stopping. It is low key my dream is to put a ka24 into it and drive the mess out of it. I have been searching for one of these guys for like six years so just to find one is amazing. (sorry for my geeking out!) 1 Quote Link to comment
datzenmike Posted August 24, 2016 Report Share Posted August 24, 2016 http://community.ratsun.net/topic/54932-photobucket-ratsun/ 1 Quote Link to comment
flatcat19 Posted August 24, 2016 Report Share Posted August 24, 2016 flatcat's easy guide to posting pics... Load all pics to photobucket. Click picture you want to upload. From PC, right side of screen, click IMG code. That code will flash yellow and say COPIED. Paste that picture to text box below. From mobile app: Select picture. Press the SHARE icon. Select COPY TO CLIPBOARD. You will see all 4 link options. Again, click the IMG code to see the copied message. Paste that code to text box below. 1 Quote Link to comment
datzenmike Posted August 24, 2016 Report Share Posted August 24, 2016 If the L-16 engine runs good and strong, do the engine swap as a last option. If you get the truck, run the L-16 for a while. Yes, some people have done various engine swaps. Far more engines swaps were started, and abandoned, with the truck being scrapped, or never ran. yep..run the L16 till you get the money, resources and tech. know how for KA swap. Run the L16. Shake the bugs out of the 521. like others have said, rock the l16 for a bit, and figure out what you really want, build it and swap. don't under estimate the l20b power. and get us some pics!!!!! :) That's the best advice there is. Get it running. Sort it out and know what needs to be fixed and what needs upgrading then DO it. Build from a solid foundation. 3 Quote Link to comment
Stoffregen Motorsports Posted August 24, 2016 Report Share Posted August 24, 2016 That's what I cal getting to know your vehicle before you make a bunch of changes. When building a vehicle from a basket case, it's best to know that you want to own it before you sink a bunch of money into it. 2 Quote Link to comment
Ketcher521 Posted September 1, 2016 Author Report Share Posted September 1, 2016 it isn't letting upload a picture. But it is just a basic tan 521. It has virtually no body damage. Super straight. No rust through spots. or really any rust. solid frame. Engine in the bed. Other than that. Clean. 500 bucks. Its a steal in my eyes. I have been looking for the right one for years. 1 Quote Link to comment
Ketcher521 Posted September 1, 2016 Author Report Share Posted September 1, 2016 I think I have it http://s347.photobucket.com/user/Ketcher_Duke_Montgomery/media/IMG_0124%201_zpsoeg8w1uu.jpg.html?o=18 1 Quote Link to comment
wayno Posted September 1, 2016 Report Share Posted September 1, 2016 I don't know what computer devise you have, so cannot tell you how to post your photos, here is the one your link sent me too, you have several photos of 521s and 520s. 1 Quote Link to comment
Ketcher521 Posted September 1, 2016 Author Report Share Posted September 1, 2016 yeah. It The tan one is the one I would be buying. The green one is another one he has for sale but it is more so a parts truck. 1 Quote Link to comment
wayno Posted September 1, 2016 Report Share Posted September 1, 2016 yeah. It The tan one is the one I would be buying. The green one is another one he has for sale but it is more so a parts truck. What kind of computer you have, desk top? What browser you using? If you buy that 521, you need to buy the dash out of that 520, it is metal and will never crack like that 521 dash is cracked. 1 Quote Link to comment
Charlie69 Posted September 1, 2016 Report Share Posted September 1, 2016 If you have room for the 520 and the 521 I would try to make a package deal on both. That way you have some parts you can rob and hoard from the 520 and part out what you do not want to recoup some of your money spent. Quote Link to comment
Stoffregen Motorsports Posted September 1, 2016 Report Share Posted September 1, 2016 You're probably not using the image code. Read this - http://community.ratsun.net/topic/691-how-to-post-pictures-and-keep-online-photo-albums/ 1 Quote Link to comment
pwrcat4000 Posted September 1, 2016 Report Share Posted September 1, 2016 Computer stuff hey I can contributeI created an Imgur accountUp;loaded images or just paste in the image address from your Google photos (in my case ) then once uploaded Click the imageClick the Copy icon on the one marked BBCode Paste into the reply frame and Violla picture 1 Quote Link to comment
banzai510(hainz) Posted September 1, 2016 Report Share Posted September 1, 2016 that's tan one is straight. Key is the wiring underneath 1 Quote Link to comment
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